Best affordable sports cars for 2018 bring the fun

Driving can still be fun. It doesn’t take a six-figure performance crossover or 600-horsepower widow-maker. The list aims for cars under or around the average transaction price, which is at near-record high of $35,359. It is limited to redesigns of significantly refreshed model year 2018 and 2019 models. That excludes the excellent Honda Civic Si, Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ, Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST (you’re killing us, Ford), Nissan 370Z (it’s coming, says the internet), Fiat 500 Abarth (that refresh wasn’t significant). Read the story>>>

Driving can still be fun. It doesn’t take a six-figure performance crossover or 600-horsepower widow-maker. Despite all the semi-autonomous whoopsie doos and all the comfy compromises of the reigning crossover class, automakers are still making cars that steal our hearts without stealing our bank accounts.

The average transaction price for new vehicles in July was a near-record $35,359, which is a 3 percent increase since last year, according to Kelley Blue Book. According to everyone else, that’s a whole lotta money.

Why not have fun for that money, preferably in a manual transmission? We’re capping the list at the average transaction price. For the most part. Since we’re pushing for endangered features such as manual transmissions and affordable sports cars, we might as well include the all-American, chest-thumping V-8 engine where possible. The list is also limited to redesigns of significantly refreshed model year 2018 and 2019 models. That excludes the excellent Honda Civic Si, Toyota 86, Subaru BRZ, Ford Focus ST and Fiesta ST (you’re killing us, Ford), Nissan 370Z (it’s coming, says the internet), Fiat 500 Abarth (that refresh wasn’t significant).

The best affordable sports cars (2017) under $34,000 include the Toyota 86, Subaru WRX, Golf GTI, Ford Mustang, Honda Civic Si and Mazda MX-5 Miata RF. We've included only cars that are redesigned or refreshed for 2017 or 2018, so the excellent Chevy Camaro (redesigned in 2016), and 2018 Ford Fiesta ST, which bizarrely hasn't been announced for North America, don't make the cut. Read the story>>>

2019 Mazda MX-Miata RF

Improbably, impossibly, the world’s best-selling roadster gets better with each passing year. Even for purists who worried about the additional weight of the Targa-like hardtop in the 2017 MX-5 Miata RF, the refreshed 2019 models get better where it matters most: under the hood. Skyactiv-G engine output jumps from 155 to 181 horsepower for 2019 with an increased redline from 6,800 to 7,500 rpm. It’s hard to tell unless driving the old and new back-to-back, but one thing is clear: Leaving it in gear longer creates a more significant thrill. And it has the best six-speed manual transmission around. Fortunately, engineers relented to adding a bit of weight with a new telescoping steering wheel. There were other safety and convenience additions, but it adds up to only 7 pounds. If you don’t understand the allure of the Miata, drive one for a day.

The second-generation Veloster is a squatter, sportier, funkier offering than the Elantra GT Sport hatchback. The 2019 Turbo R-Spec starts just under $23,000 and stays there despite having forward collision alert, lane keep assist, 8-inch touchscreen, 18-inch wheels and additional features that typically come with an additional cost. It shares the same powertrain as the GT Sport and uses a multilink rear suspension instead of the harsher torsion beam rear axle of the outgoing Veloster. The coupe nature of the Veloster keeps it low to the ground, and the relative light weight keeps it light on its wheels. Handling is composed, but if you want to fishtail, fish elsewhere in rear-drive waters.

Best 2016 sports cars: Automakers were primed for the combustion of low gas prices and economic optimism to roll out an onslaught of track-ready performance cars and everyday sports coupes for model year 2016. From the ludicrous to the legendary, from the Lambo Aventador to the Mazda Miata, here are the best sports cars of 2016.

The first Sport variant in the redesigned hatchback isn’t all that sporty, but it’s fun enough to make the cut. GT Sport is lower, wider and longer than the outgoing Touring model, and the front-drive five-door has the same powertrain as the Veloster Turbo. GT Sport comes very well-equipped at a few thousand dollars less than the competition (Honda Civic hatch).

Refreshed for 2018, the Volkswagen Golf GTI is the standard-bearer for what an affordable sports car should be: adaptable to the driver's ability (and mood), fun to drive, and has the smoothest, most accessible six-speed manual available. As one of the roomiest hatchbacks, it's also versatile enough for the owner to grow from a driver to a spouse to a parent without having to sacrifice car fun. We said the same thing in last year’s list, and we’re sticking to it after finally getting behind the wheel. It gets a 10-horsepower boost to 220, and has much better infotainment and technology.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S FASTEST 'AFFORDABLE' CARS: Technically, "fastest" time implies top speed, while quickest implies acceleration, which is what we're going for. We're going to rely on Car and Driver's 60 years of 0-60 mph testing as our main source for consistency. Since there are varying definitions of production cars, including that they be street legal, unmodified and with production runs of at least 25 units, we're going to create a ceiling of under $200,000 to eliminate the sickest supercars that 99.9 percent of us will never drive, ride in, or possibly see in the wild.

(Robert Duffer)

2018 Ford Mustang

Refreshed for 2018, the world’s best-selling sports car (according to Ford) gets a lowered hood, a wider grille and subtle styling cues from the Shelby GT350. The lowered hood reduces drag and creates better sightlines to avoid the Chevrolet Camaro. The V-6 is no longer, the 2.3-liter turbo four gets Mustang out of the gate, but an additional 25 ponies come out of the 460-horsepower 5-liter V-8. The V-8 is the siren song of muscle cars. Our tester had the new 10-speed automatic, which is nice, but the 5.0 has to have a stick, sorry. It also comes loaded with new tech, including a cool customizable 12-inch cluster display.

The big news is the new 275-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder in the refreshed 2019 Camaro. (EcoBoost Mustang makes 310 horsepower.) The base turbo model comes with sport suspension, Brembo brake calipers, 20-inch wheels and other cosmetic upgrades consistent with the rest of the lineup.

While we’re pushing the parameters of our list, we’re going to add the limited edition Type RA, which at $49,000 is the most expensive production Subaru. The $9,000 difference from the Limited STi — the benchmark for giant wings and four-door rally fun — starts with less weight for better performance and more endurance on the track. While torque stays the same, horsepower gets bumped by 5 over the STi to 310 horsepower. Since only 500 were made, odds are you’ll have to settle for the STi, and that’s perfectly fine.